According to the proverb, “seeing is believing,” but hearing something before you can see it can be very important, too. The earliest humans heard and recognized the sounds of predators long before they could see them. If they could see them — it was probably too late to take evasive action. While sound has always […]
FAQ
What are quantum sensors?
Quantum sensors measure minute changes in electric and magnetic fields as well as motion and the measurements are made at the atomic level. At this scale, information from individual atoms instead of from huge collections of atoms allows quantum sensors to make exponentially more accurate, more thorough, more efficient, and more productive measurements. Using the […]
How do brain-computer interfaces use sensors?
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) activated prosthetics, and other applications need sensors to provide feedback. Intensive work has been and continues to be done in this area. For example, researchers have reported their progress on an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based motor imagery BCI to control the movement of a prosthetic hand. The hand was instrumented with force and angle […]
How can sensors protect vulnerable areas? part 4
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making ongoing efforts to address the unintended and purposeful contamination of the nation’s water supplies. Sensing technologies are an integral part of this strategy. In 2023, the EPA proposed new limits to drinking water contamination from toxic “forever chemicals” or perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Used widely as […]
How can sensors protect vulnerable areas? part 2
Part 1 of this four-part blog addressed air quality monitoring in cities and populated areas. Less densely populated areas, such as a rain forest, may require different approaches. In addition, water quality monitoring in outdoor locations and clean drinking water from processing stations provide additional sensing opportunities. Part 2 will address these areas. Rain forest […]
What are the subtleties of using accelerometers as vibration sensors?
Accelerometers are deceptively simple-looking devices but complex electromechanical systems. However, numerous mechanical, environmental, electronic, and application-related factors must be considered when using accelerometers. This FAQ reviews several of the subtleties that need to be considered when using accelerometers as vibration sensors and closes with a look at the ISO/IEC/IEEE 21451-4:2010 standard for Transducer Electronic Data […]
When to use sound pressure and when to use sound intensity measurements
Sound pressure, sound intensity, and sound power are three different ways to quantify sound. This FAQ begins by defining each one, looks at various types of measurement techniques that can be used to quantify them, presents a range of international testing standards for measuring sound, looks at instruments used for measuring sound pressure and intensity, […]
How can sensors protect vulnerable areas? part 1
Clean air and water are essential for life. Protecting these valuable elements starts with sensors that detect threats from intentional or unintentional contamination. Today, available sensing technologies target different locations/areas to ensure the safe ongoing supply of fresh air and water. Using various sensing techniques, a comprehensive measurement system is key to broad and localized […]
When should passive or active RFID be used?
The main difference between passive and active radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags is the absence (passive) or presence (active) of an internal power source. Because of these primary differences, there are several secondary differences. Understanding these differences is the key to properly selecting the most appropriate RFID system for a specific application. Passive RFID Since they […]
What makes a stethoscope smart?
Unlike the analog stethoscope used by doctors for over 100 years, the digital stethoscope appeared in 1960. According to DataM Intelligence, a market research and business intelligence firm, the Electronic Stethoscope Market size was valued at USD 342.1 million in 2021 and is estimated to reach at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.20% […]
